CHAPTER ELEVEN: The night out

Hermione was staring at her drink, not really knowing what to say. Ron was still furious Harry wouldn't let him participate in the mission but struggled not to show it anymore. He put on his brave face and tried pretending like he understood this 'you quit for a reason, you deserve a rest, mate' bullshit. Harry knew that the team needed trust – and no matter how eager Ron was to participate, he'd never just get along with the rest of this peculiar team.

Ginny, however, was mad at Harry for not telling her sooner about the mission but the day before. Thankfully, she didn't blame Hermione. They were sitting at the Three Broomsticks, all of them staring awkwardly at each other. The usual commotion seemed to deepen the silence between them.

'You shouldn't be putting yourself in danger. Not now,' grumbled Ginny finally.

Harry looked at her in surprise. 'Gin, are you sure it's a good time to—'

'Ron, Hermione, we've got something to tell you,' said Ginny, glaring daggers at her husband and then turned to Ron and Hermione, straightening up.

Both of them shifted in their seats uncomfortably. Something was going on, but it didn't seem like good news.

'I'm pregnant.'

The silence hung between them as both Ron and Hermione stared at them, completely stunned.

'Oh my god, Ginny, why haven't you told me! That's amazing!' bellowed Hermione after a moment and hugged her best friend.

Ron was still sitting, rooted to the spot.

'You're what?!'

'Pregnant, Ronald,' replied Hermione, narrowing her eyes at him.

'Right. Congratulations, you two,' he said, but a bit awkwardly.

Ginny glared at him for a few seconds, unsure about his intentions. 'Right. Thanks. Now. If you don't mind, I'd like five minutes alone with my husband. I need to talk some sense into him. And then, you,' she pointed to Hermione with a threatening look. Then, she just smiled sweetly.

Ron quickly got up from his seat as if he wanted to get away as fast as possible, and Hermione followed him out of the Three Broomsticks.

The wave of freezing air hit them the second they left. Surprisingly, it was snowing for the first time this year. The winter hasn't come yet, but since it was rather cold, so there was a chance it would be white soon. It was dark already, and the lamps were lit – which somehow gave Hogsmeade a bit of a Christmassy look.

There was an awkward silence between them when they took down the road.

'So, how are you?' asked Ron to fill the silence.

Hermione glanced at him, unsure what to say.

'I'm… fine, actually. You?'

He just nodded.

They passed most shops and restaurants, and Hogwarts appeared before their eyes, as majestic as ever. In some windows, there was light, and the others remained dark. It started snowing rather heavily, so they had to hide under one of the roofs, which in these few minutes already turned white. They were close enough to even see partially frozen Black Lake.

'Look, I know you must've seen the pictures in the papers,' started Ron sheepishly.

'It's okay,' she waved her hand. 'I'm happy for you, truly. It's better that way for us, anyway. Look at us now. Maybe… Maybe it's a bit awkward when there's just the two of us, but at least we're not constantly fighting. It's good to be friends after all that'd happened.'

'I agree.'

They took in the beautiful view of the castle and the Black Lake nearby.

'I know it's none of my business, 'cause I kind of left my job… But are you sure you can trust them? I mean, they are not the best people,' noticed Ron.

Hermione shook her head. 'Yes, I'm sure. Ron, when Draco came looking for a job, I was so confused. I knew he deserved it, based on his qualifications, but I didn't want to be responsible for that. And yet, I risked it and gave him this chance. I don't regret that. He's proven to be trustworthy. And this mission… Maybe it's a bit risky to ask them for help, but they're our best chance, and they can give us an advantage. And honestly, if they prove themselves on this mission again, I'll be finally free of any doubts that have been haunting me.'

Ron was staring at her in disbelief, which irritated her slightly.

'What?' she asked.

'Nothing… It's just… His name sounds so weird. He'll always be Malfoy to me.'

Hermione cursed herself in her thoughts. Of course she had to call him by his name for some reason. She should be more careful.

'I'll give them a chance, 'Mione,' he sighed heavily after a moment. 'Just because both you and Harry seem to think it's a good idea. But I swear, if anything happens to you because of them, they'll answer to me.'

Hermione chuckled. 'I'm not sure they'd be afraid of you, Ron.'

'Oh, trust me, they would. I'd show 'em.'

'Well, hopefully, it won't come to that.'

Ron laughed heartily. 'Such a waste of my talents. But yeah, hopefully, it won't.'

'Hey guys,' they heard a voice behind them.

They turned around to see Harry, tightly wrapped in a woollen coat, walking up to them.

'What's up?' asked Ron, staring at his glasses that were already covered in snow and wondered whether he could see anything.

'It's your turn,' Harry told Hermione, indicating that she should prepare herself.

'Oh, Merlin,' she said as the two boys laughed and headed back to the Three Broomsticks.

She sat down opposite Ginny once again. The redhead seemed much calmer now, but that could as well mean the calm before the storm.

'Am I here to be scolded?' grinned Hermione. 'Because Harry seemed a bit shaken.'

Ginny let out a laugh. 'No, Hermione. I just want to wish you good luck. And Harry might seem shaken because today, I found out I'm having twins.'

'Twins?!'

'Well, yeah, crazy, I know. I've known I was pregnant for about a week, and I was at the doctor's today. He told me it's twins. And honestly, we're both terrified. If they turn out anything like Fred and George, I swear I'm making you and Malfoy babysit every chance I get.'

Hermione rolled her eyes. 'You're still on that?'

'Yes, I'm still on that,' she smiled mischievously. 'What did you think? That I'd let it slide?'

'Well, I certainly hoped so,' admitted Hermione.

Ginny shook her head. 'Like I'd pass an opportunity to tease you. So, now you're going on a mission together. Sounds like a perfect opportunity to—'

'Ginevra!'

'There we go with the full name again,' she chuckled, smirking. 'Merlin, you're so easy to provoke. What I meant to say is, it sounds like a perfect opportunity to talk about that book of yours.'

'Book?' asked Hermione surprised.

'Oh, you know, the one you mentioned when we met him last time in that pub?'

'Pride and Prejudice?'

Ginny choked on her juice.

'You gave him "Pride and Prejudice"?' she asked, coughing the whole time.

'Well… yeah.'

'Oh Merlin, aren't you something else?'

Hermione stared at her, completely taken aback. 'What do you mean?'

Ginny gave her a why-are-you-such-an-idiot sort of look and laughed.

'Well, since you made me read it because: "oh, you have to read it! The best book of all time!"' she mocked. 'I shouldn't be surprised you recommended it to him. But you do realise what is it about, yes?'

'Of course I do, Ginny, it's my favourite classic,' she huffed, sipping her drink angrily.

'Okay, so let me walk you through it really slowly,' she smirked. 'Elisabeth meets Darcy, who is this stuck-up, prejudiced, proud bloke who thinks he's above everyone else. And he's rude to her because he just assumes she's going to like him like everybody else – after all, he's so awesome, but then she doesn't. The second thing is, which we find out a bit later, his social skills are none to zero and boy, does it not help him. Do you see where I'm going with this?'

'No,' lied Hermione, so Ginny shook her head.

'So, he's immediately taken in with her because she doesn't treat him like everybody else, right? She doesn't worship him or swoon over him, and most importantly, she doesn't take his bullshit and calls him out on his rudeness. He's rude, obviously, but later in the story, we realise that he had these expectations set up for him and wasn't used to being rejected or talking to people altogether. He was rather private and SUPER awkward, wasn't he? And on top of that, she had the audacity to talk back to him even if she was lower born than him?'

Hermione shook her head determinedly, so Ginny kept on grinning widely.

'So Elisabeth turns down the proposal that Darcy was certain she'd accept because he thought he could have any girl like that,' she snapped her fingers. 'And he does what? Oh, that's right, his ego is crumbled. Embarrassed goes Darcy back to his estate, and his world view is absolutely crushed because he realises that he's not, in fact, better.'

Hermione stared steadfastly at her friend. 'I know the story, and you're kind of missing the point, but Ginny, I don't see—'

'And then we see the story from his point of view. Because, as a gentleman does, he explains the situation to the lady and promises to drop it – which he does. It turns out he does, in fact, care about people that are close to him. Just sometimes, he's grumpy or can't properly express it. He's awkward and has no idea how to interact with people, so he may come off as rude. Add an ego to this, and we've got disaster at our hands. So he's not the bad guy now, is he? Moreover, he starts changing. It's difficult for him, obviously. But he changes because when Lizzie turned him down, he saw how other people saw him – a rude stuck-up. He's determined to be nicer to people and not appear as a bad guy anymore. Not only for her, as you've mentioned to me billions of times when anybody would at least mention interpreting this thing wrong, but for him and everyone else. And then, by accident – he meets her again. So now, whenever he gets the chance, Darcy can show her who he really is – at the same time respecting her personal space, he's not pushy. And she sees him from a different perspective now – without the whole awkward and ego combo – and falls in love. Both of them have to let go of their prejudices and swallow their pride. Now, what does that remind me of...'

'I don't know, Ginny,' shrugged Hermione, sighing irritably.

The redhead stared at her furiously. 'Merlin, Hermione, do I have to scream that in your face? You're so stubborn. It's obvious Malfoy's Darcy, and you're Elisabeth!'

'I am not—'

'Please then, show me the point of this story that doesn't resemble your situation.'

'Well, Malfoy didn't propose to me,' Hermione noticed.

Ginny laughed banteringly. 'He certainly wishes to keep his head where it belongs – on his neck. Besides, the times are different. It may not be an identical situation, but you have to be stupid to deny any similarities.'

'I'm not stupid,' snorted Hermione. 'Besides, Darcy was rude, and Malfoy was a bully. There's a difference.'

'Of course you're not stupid. Just stubborn. Or, you know, lying to yourself.'

Hermione glared daggers at her, but Ginny didn't seem impressed with her angry stare.

'Like, for example, when did Malfoy respect my wishes and left me alone?' she asked, her arms crossed.

'Oh, I don't know, for the last few months, maybe? You said it yourself that he behaved perfectly well. That's respect right there. I just hope he's not that blatantly oblivious as you when he reads that book,' noticed Ginny with a smirk.

'What?' asked Hermione, perplexed. 'You think he might notice that?'

Now Ginny's smirk turned into a wide grin. 'Well, now, look at that. Yes, Hermione, I think he might notice that. Especially since it was you who recommended the book? And you know, it's muggle. That also says a lot.'

'Oh, Merlin, no,' she whined and hid her face in her hands.

'So, have you just realised something?'

'I would, but Merlin, Elisabeth would be way smarter than this,' she sighed woefully.

'Now, don't worry. Lizzie was also completely oblivious up to a certain point. Besides, it's a story with a happy ending. There's a lot of angst, but in the end, no one ends up hurt, dead or in a toxic and abusive relationship. Gotta give it to this Austen gal for writing a good relationship arc.'

'Yeah, but life's not a book.'

'Well, you never know,' she smiled at her friend.

Hermione looked at her with sudden fear in her eyes.

'Ginny – I… We... I mean, something happened—' she mumbled.

'Oh my god, you slept together!' she shrieked.

Hermione kicked her in the shin. 'Why don't you say it a little bit louder – I don't think the guy in the back heard you!'

'I did!' someone called happily, waving his beer to the girls.

Hermione groaned.

'Sorry,' whispered Ginny, slightly abashed.

'No, Ginny, we didn't sleep together. We did share – a sort of a moment, so to speak—'

Ginny let out a squeal.

'Good Merlin, contain yourself!' scolded her Hermione.

'I'm sorry, I'm just excited! It's just like in your favourite book! That must be exciting!'

'It is not, but maybe it would be exciting if you weren't literally jumping in your seat,' she noticed critically. 'Anyway, nothing really happened. I think it was just spur of the moment anyway. We would've woke up any second, anyway. I mean, come on, that's ridiculous, Malfoy and I. Besides, you should be the one who talks me out of it. You should be the one who tells me he doesn't deserve me.'

Ginny raised her eyebrows, amused.

'Of course he doesn't,' she said simply. 'But it doesn't change the fact that if he makes you happy, you should go for it. Especially once he's proven himself to you. Sure, I'd prefer you dated someone who… well, someone better. But A, you deserve to be with someone who makes you happy. B, someone who treats you right – and apologies if I don't believe he wouldn't, now that he's changed. And C, don't you think he himself thinks he doesn't deserve you? He possibly sits at his great estate and stares out of the window morosely, looking at the fogged meadow, thinking about it all the time.'

'Life isn't a romantic drama, Ginny.'

'Sure it isn't!' she agreed but didn't lose her enthusiasm nonetheless. 'I'm just saying that I know Malfoy may be the hard choice – because of your past, but just like in "Pride and Prejudice" – it doesn't have to mean you forgave him what he'd done. I know maybe Darcy's faults weren't that bad, but the situation has its similarities and the same morale, no? It means he changed and that it was he who worked hard for that. You wouldn't be with a person who he was back then. You would be the person who he is now. You know, something to think about.'

Hermione studied her friend thoughtfully and eventually nodded.

'Okay. I will. I will think about it.'

Draco, Theo and Blaise were sitting at the Leaky Cauldron over some firewhisky drinks. The mission was to start soon since they finally got the message from Nott senior with the date and the place to meet. After getting it and discussing everything once again with the "task force", as Potter was referring to it for some reason, they decided to get this one night to themselves. If anything was to go south, at least they would have this memory. Obviously, not one of them said that aloud, but they didn't have to – they knew each other all too well to not understand the meaning of this meeting.

'So,' said Theo as he came back with another round of drinks. 'We're playing heroes now.'

'I wouldn't say heroes,' snorted Blaise. 'More like doing one decent thing that we should've done a long time ago to live with yourself.'

'That's dark.'

'You're not with me for frivolous remarks, are you, love?' he smirked.

'Nah, brooding Blaise is the sexiest Blaise,' grinned Theo.

'I certainly hope one decent thing will be enough for me,' muttered Draco.

'For you maybe not, but Granger seems to already think quite highly of you. I mean, considering you're a git and prat, highly,' sneered Theo. 'Hold onto that one, mate. She's really something else.'

'Would you let that go already?' he asked angrily.

'If you do, sure,' Theo retorted with a brilliant smile. 'But that's not going to happen anytime soon, now, is it?'

Draco groaned.

'You're such an arse.'

'That's what best friends do, Drakie.'

He sent him a thunderous glare to which Theo just laughed heartily.

'I don't answer for what's going on in your head, Nott, but maybe we should send you to St. Mungo's?'

'That gives me an idea,' snorted Blaise, leaning conspicuously over to his boyfriend. 'What do you say, Theo? Maybe they'll fix his mind, and he'll finally admit how hopelessly in love he really is?'

Theo seemed to love the idea as his face immediately lit up. Draco, however, looked around the room frantically.

'Have you gone mad? Keep it down! Besides, I'm not in love.'

'Whatever you say, mate,' said Blaise, raising his drink.

'Drake, you literally told her you "mildly enjoy being bossed around by her",' noticed Theo with an amused smile.

'Whatever,' shrugged Draco. 'It's not like it means anything. I don't even know why I told you that.'

Blaise and Theo exchanged sceptical glances.

'I mean, maybe you're right,' sighed Theo with a gleam in his eye. 'After all, you never tell a girl you like her. It just makes you look like an idiot.'

Draco studied him sceptically.

'Theo, you're gay.'

'Don't you think I know that? What's your point?' snorted Theo.

'So does this "rule" even apply to you?'

'The rule, Drakie, is gender-neutral. But does it mean you disagree with the rule, then?' he asked happily.

Draco sighed heavily. 'I mean, it's not like I can tell her I like her.'

'So you do like her!' bellowed Theo happily, and a few people turned around to see what was going on. Draco groaned, clearly annoyed.

'I didn't say I did.'

'Then why did you say—'

'Okay, so for the sake of this conversation, let's say I do, for a second—'

'I knew it!' Theo exclaimed.

'For the sake of this conversation,' hissed Draco through the gritted teeth.

Blaise shushed Nott before he could protest again.

'Yes, right, of course,' he agreed with a serious face.

'What would that change? It's not like someone like me can be with someone like her.'

Theo's eyes literally resembled two hearts.

'Oh Merlin, he is just so—'

This time, Blaise stomped on his foot to shut him up. He was curious what Draco had to say in this "imaginary" scenario. And if they pretended for a second that they believed the whole "for-the-sake-of-this-conversation" thing, maybe he would actually open up a little.

'I mean, it's ridiculous. I mean, Granger's smart, and she knows better than to associate with… someone like me.'

Theo raised an eyebrow but knew better than to interrupt.

'Whichever way you look at it, I've already done too much damage. No one will care if I've changed or that I've tried to help with whatever we're doing tomorrow. And, to be honest, she deserves better.'

Theo and Blaise were listening intently, and once he'd finished, the long and stunned silence hung upon them.

'Well then, as you can see, that would be ridiculous. This is why you're wrong. I don't like her. End of story.'

Theo just couldn't stop himself before he blurted out, 'Well, that's just bullshit.'

Blaise and Draco looked at him in surprise. Theo rarely lost his cool. And even more rarely did he lose his humour. But now, he was glaring at Malfoy, clenching his fists.

'I don't think I have ever met someone so in denial! Doesn't constantly lying to yourself exhaust you? I thought that maybe I could annoy you into thinking seriously about that, but NO. You like that girl, Draco, we know that, and you know that. If you'd like to continue pretending otherwise, please do so, but do me a favour. Don't decide for her. The whole "I'll take a backseat for her own good" act is both absurd and disrespectful. She should be able to make an informed decision and decide what's for her own good. As should you.'

'What happened to "you don't tell a girl you like her"?' asked Blaise.

'Read the room, mate,' said Draco gloomily.

'You don't get to decide for her,' continued Theo, angry as never before. 'If she wanted you out of her life, then you should keep away from her, but don't you think she deserves to have a say in this? I mean, she clearly doesn't want that, but at least give her a chance to express it. So get your head out of your own arse.'

Draco sighed heavily.

'I suppose you're right.'

A/N: So! I just found out I've been using the quotation marks wrong all this time. I've double-checked in all the books I have in English, and that is, in fact, the case. So don't mind it, I'll try to fix the previous chapters as soon as possible, but since I'm more of a dialogue writer, there'll be A LOT of it.